Alibaba

Baidu

ByteDance

Meituan

Pinduoduo

Tencent

Most Followed

KrASIA Connection

China's Auto Sector

Earnings Reports

Inside China's Startups

Venture Roundup

Our Events

View All

Collections

News

Features

Insights

Ecosystem

DeepSeek

Kuaishou

Li Auto

Xiaohongshu

Xiaomi

Xpeng

On the Radar

JD.com ended its 618 festival with over 2.2 billion orders and more than 100% YoY growth in user numbers. Appliance and home category sales surged, wi…

Events

Latest

About

36Kr (EN)

Consumer

Robotics

Fintech

What guides machine-led insights? Uncover AI applications, language models, and decision-making systems transforming sectors worldwide.

Artificial Intelligence

What lies beyond familiar frontiers? Investigate emerging tech—like quantum computing and AI—transforming traditional sectors.

Deep Tech

China

Splat is an app that turns arguments into entertainment, where AI judges your roasts and fighting is framed as a form of connection.

This 26-year-old built a social app where fighting is not a bug, but a feature

Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

KrASIA

AI Now! is a global AI community of Chinese developers, professionals, and founders.

AI Now!

What sets the bar for convenience? Examine on-demand platforms, subscription models, and personalization transforming consumer expectations.

Consumer Economy

How do stores adapt to digital shifts? Explore e-commerce integration, inventory analytics, and omnichannel strategies for modern shoppers.

Retail

Fashion labels, coffee chains, and lifestyle startups are reimagining what it means to belong in a historic neighborhood that still feels lived in.

Adidas lands on Anfu Road, joining the retail mix shaping Shanghai’s storied street

36Kr is China's most influential business and technology network, delivering high-quality content focused on China’s innovation and new economy trends since 2010. With its extensive traffic and network, 36Kr has built a comprehensive database and strong data analytics capabilities to provide insights into China’s technology landscape.

36Kr English

How do markets shape wealth creation? Study portfolio diversification, asset classes, and strategies balancing growth and risk.

Investment

When do companies invite public investment? Understand listing criteria, underwriter roles, and regulatory steps defining initial offerings.

Why do firms join forces? Investigate synergy goals, valuation methods, and negotiations driving corporate consolidation.

Merger &amp; Acquisition

What happens after acquisitions close? Examine deal structures, operational improvements, and exit strategies molding corporate outcomes.

Private Equity

What fuels startup ecosystems? Review funding rounds, investor strategies, and market insights guiding entrepreneurial growth.

Venture Capital

Bringing you the latest updates on funding deals and activities in the Asia Pacific.

Deals in brief: Salmon raises USD 88 million, InstaPay closes Series A2 round, ten China deals, and more

An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

Sudo Lim

KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories—alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

Header Section | KrASIA

Home

Sections

Header Section

<a href="/company/jd">JD.com</a> ended its 618 festival with over 2.2 billion orders and more than 100% YoY growth in user numbers. Appliance and home category sales surged, with 15 new products surpassing RMB 100 million. Live stream sales rose 285%, while hot weather drove demand for AI-powered air conditioners and summer goods. JD Mall’s offline stores also posted triple-digit gains.

<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba's</a> internal forums lit up after Yuan An, DingTalk’s former product lead and a 15-year veteran, resigned and shared an exit memo lamenting lost values, missed tech shifts, and bureaucratic inertia. His reflections reportedly struck a nerve across China’s tech sector, where concerns over stagnation and “big company disease” continue to grow.

Nintendo has yet to release the Switch 2 in mainland China, but Hong Kong units are being resold on <a href="/company/jd">JD.com</a> and Taobao for over RMB 4,000, underscoring strong demand despite no official launch plans. Analysts warn that prolonged delays could fuel piracy and gray market expansion.

<a href="/company/kuaishou">Kuaishou’s</a> 618 campaign saw strong GMV growth across shelf and content scenes, with search GMV up 143% and short video GMV rising 29% YoY. GMV from big-ticket items jumped 219%, while the number of sellers surpassing RMB 100 million grew 61%.

Meta is hiring Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman, key figures behind <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> startup Safe Superintelligence and VC firm NFDG. The duo will work with Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang, brought on through a USD 14.3 billion deal. Meta will also take a stake in NFDG.

Google is using YouTube videos to train <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> models like Veo 3 and Gemini, but many creators say they were not informed. While YouTube’s terms permit content use, experts warn the practice could undercut creators by producing competing content without credit or consent, raising concerns over AI, copyright, and digital identity.

Export orders on Alibaba.com rose 42% YoY during this year’s 618 event, with GMV up nearly 30% amid early Christmas demand from the US and Europe, where order volumes jumped 55% and 84% respectively. Some suppliers saw sales double, prompting Alibaba to extend US promotions through August and ramp up ad placements across Europe.

Panasonic has partnered with Unitree Robotics to launch <a href="/industry/robotics">humanoid robot</a> sales assistants in retail stores, marking the robots’ first major commercial deployment beyond performances. Debuting at Panasonic’s Hangzhou park, the robots can reportedly explain products, assess customer needs, and calculate offers in real time.

China’s central bank governor said the yuan will play a larger role in a multipolar currency system, warning against overreliance on the US dollar. His remarks came amid rising geopolitical tensions and aligned with efforts to expand the digital yuan, CIPS network, and outbound investment channels.

Chinese customs authorities have seized over 46,000 counterfeit Labubu toys across Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai as demand for the viral <a href="/company/pop-mart">Pop Mart</a> collectible fuels a surge in knockoffs. State media warned of a growing black market chain mixing fakes with genuine dolls and called for stricter IP enforcement and platform oversight.

A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded during a June 18 static fire test in Texas, likely due to a nitrogen tank failure, marking the first ground test loss in years. No injuries were reported, but the blast adds to ongoing setbacks for a vehicle central to NASA’s moon plans and Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions.

ByteDance, a Chinese internet company, uses machine learning to recommend engaging videos, news, and social content (via TikTok and Douyin).

China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

East Asia

TikTok hosts short-form videos spanning entertainment, education, and branded content, capturing global audiences and driving cultural trends.

TikTok

TikTok Shop, the e-commerce arm of TikTok, enables in-app shopping by connecting users with brands and creators through live commerce and short videos.

TikTok Shop

What drives digital storytelling? Examine content creation, distribution channels, and media platforms connecting audiences worldwide.

Content

How do ideas shape industries? Learn how content, design, and digital artistry influence branding, marketing, and cultural impact.

Creative

How do clicks replace aisles? Explore global marketplaces, payment solutions, and technology accelerating online retail’s growth.

E-commerce

What happens when viewers join in real time? Explore live streaming platforms, audience interaction tools, and brand opportunities in instant video.

Live Streaming

How do platforms deliver on immediacy? Analyze ride-hailing, instant deliveries, and gig models meeting consumer needs fast.

On-demand Services

Can brief clips hold lasting impact? Analyze short-form content trends, creator communities, and platform strategies for rapid viewer engagement.

Short Video

How do visuals captivate global viewers? Dive into streaming services, production models, and evolving formats defining video engagement.

Video

Some believe a full ban on TikTok in the US is unlikely. TikTok is counting on it.

Too big to ban? TikTok keeps expanding as Trump grants third ban reprieve

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a6b9ace74da9df391d5f7ba1892f4393?s=96&d=blank&r=g

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ff53490f679f358bf543998d228fb32?s=96&d=blank&r=g

DJI sets industry standards in drone technology, offering aerial imaging, filming solutions, and advanced flight controls for professionals and hobbyists.

What entertains a connected world? Track shifts in film, music, and media consumption, as platforms and audiences redefine cultural experiences.

Entertainment

What grounds digital progress in physical form? Analyze chipsets, sensors, and advanced components driving device performance.

Hardware

With DJI preparing to enter its core segment, Insta360 faces the challenge of defending its moat through continued innovation.

JD.com's 618 orders top 2.2 billion

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

Too big to ban? TikTok keeps expanding as Trump grants third ban reprieve

Deals in brief: Salmon raises USD 88 million, InstaPay closes Series A2 round, ten China deals, and more

Insta360’s IPO pop signals confidence, but the real challenge lies ahead